Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1287. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the North-South interconnector project; if he will address the concerns of persons in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35471/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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On 19 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the North-South Interconnector project in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which included an Oral Hearing completed over eleven weeks from March to May last year. The planning decision is currently the subject of Judicial Review proceedings. The planning process for the section of the project in Northern Ireland is ongoing with an oral hearing concluding on 27 February 2017.

In light of the motions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann earlier this year, I had proposals prepared for an updated independent study. In preparing the terms of reference for this study, my officials held meetings with representatives of the North East Pylon Pressure Campaign on 28 March and the Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee on 3 April. I approved the Terms of Reference for the study and published them on my Department's website on Monday 8 May. Following the publication of the Terms of Reference, I met with a number of Oireachtas members from Cavan, Monaghan and Meath on Tuesday 16 May. This meeting provided me the opportunity to update the members on progress in relation to the proposed study and for the members to provide feedback. My officials have been engaging directly with consultants who have worked with the Department previously on this project and I expect the procurement of those consultants to be concluded in the coming weeks.

The impact on land and property values and the level of compensation paid in lieu of such impacts was also discussed at the meeting with Oireachtas members and at the meetings with the community groups. Whilst it would not be appropriate for me to intrude on settled processes for addressing these issues between developers and affected landowners, in light of the concerns that have been voiced, I am commissioning research on international comparative practice on the approach to and levels of compensation provided to land and property owners in proximity to high-voltage transmission lines.